Fairfax columnist Tony Wright said from the outside, Albury-Wodonga appeared to be a flourishing example of twin cities, which were successful with little federal government support.

“Unfortunately, those who are against the idea of government intervention in decentralisation use Albury-Wodonga as an example of why you don’t need it,” he said.

Natalie Kotsios, now with The Weekly Times, started at The Border Mail in 2013 covering the race for Indi between Sophie Mirabella and Cathy McGowan.

“That was my first foray into political journalism and a quite interesting entry into it,” she said.

The panel covered topics ranging from politicians’ citizenship issues, to the Coalition’s energy policy and why they believed Bill Shorten was not a likable leader.

Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer was in the crowd and Shane Wright, who now works for The West Australian, said the Nationals man’s own tough time as a leader when Australia’s gun laws were being tightened.

“I remember Tim at the Wodonga Town Hall talking about gun laws and it was a tough crowd trying to explain it, and it was one of those circumstances where the situation makes the person,” he said.